In Memoriam: Emeritus Professor Chia Boon Lock

A tribute to the lateEmeritus Professor Chia Boon LockEmeritus Consultant, National University Hospital and National University Heart Centre, Singapore

“A courageous man who never wavered in the face of mortality in his battle with a life threatening disease; a man who devoted his entire life to the single-minded pursuit of excellence in cardiology; a good teacher who was ever so willing to share his knowledge with others; a great mentor who was generous with his advice. He was simply an honourable person who led an honourable life.”

The mention of Emeritus Professor Chia Boon Lock evokes admiration and deep respect among his peers and students as a remarkable cardiologist. A pioneer in modern cardiology, Emeritus Professor Chia was fondly known as Singapore’s “Father of Cardiology”.

Through his illustrious career, Emeritus Professor Chia brought his hopes and visions for the field to life – as one of the first to introduce echocardiography and the first to introduce 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring locally. Most of all, he was best known for his novel electrocardiographic findings in acute inferior myocardial infarction.

A clinician with high standards, Emeritus Professor Chia led by example as the Head of NUH’s Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, from 1986 to 1989 and the Chief of the Cardiac Department from 1996 to 1999. He was formerly the President of the Singapore Hypertension Society and the Singapore Cardiac Society, from which he received the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. For his invaluable contributions to the field, Emeritus Professor Chia was named an Honorary Member of the Singapore Medical Association in 2008.

Above all his achievements and accolades, Emeritus Professor Chia’s personal mission was teaching. A dedicated educator and most fondly regarded by many as a great mentor, when Emeritus Professor Chia was conferred the title of Emeritus Professor in 2005, he said, "I would like to be remembered as a teacher and friend, and also as someone who has contributed to the success of cardiology in Singapore."

True to his words, he has inspired and nurtured generations of cardiologists privileged to have benefited from his wealth of experience and knowledge.